ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, April 21, 1996 TAG: 9604230014
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
The "smart" road has a simple and fair solution. There would be no significant new job opportunities for non-Virginia Tech people. It is a Virginia Tech technical project for its own mission and benefit.
Fine, there is nothing wrong with that. Virginia Tech deserves credit for forward thinking. Simply do two things: 1) Fund the smart road from Virginia Tech's budget and 2) Put the smart road on Virginia Tech property where it can best be nurtured.
If there is taxpayer transportation money available, let's spend it on local transportation needs - and there are many.
William McGinty
Blacksburg
What's on ground ends up in water
A valuable resource is at risk in the New River Valley. Only informed citizens can prevent a great loss to our community. Our well water is extremely vulnerable to contamination in a way that is not understood by many local citizens or businesses. Here's why:
Much of our valley is underlain by water-soluble limestone, a geology called karst. The features responsible for our region's beautiful lakes, springs, and sinkholes (remember the recent Interstate 81 collapse?) also make the underground water supplying our wells extremely vulnerable to contamination.
The pollutants can be dumped on the ground, used in the yard or enter through septic systems. In karst terrain, pollutants move quickly from the surface to underground, and flow rapidly once underground. There may not be enough time for chemicals and bacteria to break down before polluted underground water is drawn in our wells.
In 1992, tests by the Montgomery County Cooperative Extension found 42 percent of water samples from springs had nitrate levels exceeding the Environmental Protection Agency level of potential concern for infant feeding.
Twenty-seven percent of samples had fecal coliform bacteria.
What can be done about this?
* Keep sinkholes clear of garbage. Dumping garbage and dead animals in sinkholes is hazardous to public health.
* Recycle, or at least contain, used motor oil. Don't pour it on the ground.
* Use nontoxic alternatives in yard, pet and household products.
* Use nonpolluting pest, manure and soil management strategies at home and on the farm.
* Learn how to maintain a septic system properly, and don't overload it with unnecessary amounts of toxic household cleansers.
* If concerned about the safety of a well or spring that provides drinking water, find out how to have it tested.
* Let your local government representatives know water quality is a high priority.
* For information, call the county extension office at 382-5790.
If you don't want to drink it ... then don't put it on the ground!
Carol Stone
Water Quality Project Director, League of Women Voters of Montgomery County
Buses will find way, but reroute exhaust
Concerning the use of high-tech global positioning systems for Blacksburg Transit buses (Current, April 2), it would seem one low-tech problem needs to be addressed first. That is the venting of diesel exhaust at the top of the buses instead of your long-established, conventional way (``obnoxious way''). This would improve air quality at ground level in Blacksburg.
Mike Lengwiler
Blacksburg
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